The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-05-05
WON EN- IN ART.

Art.
The pet theory INDUCED by so many
of the lords of creation as to the in
feriority of the fiber of woman's brain
seems to have been thoroughly ex-
ploded. says writer in The Philadel-
phia Record. by the way in which she
mastered the abstruse arts and sciences
when once she had the chance. When
the history of the present century shall
come to be written the advancement
made by women as regards education.
both social and professional. will be
one of the most conspicuous incidents
recorded. This advancement is con-
coded as phenomenal, even by those
who never doubted woman's mental
capacity. and the inferior BRAIN fiber
fanatics are fairly put to rout They,
however, find some small consolation
in pertinaciously clinging to the state
ment that we have no great female
musicians, and that the women artists
have in the past gained fame solely
from their scarcity. They forget that
even so late as fifty years ago the sys-
tematic training of women in music
and art was thing almost unknown.
1t is true that women of even a remote
day learned little music as polite
accomplishment, but the thorough
training tending to develope talent to
the utmost was unheard of, while an
art school for women did not exist
and the list of artists of that day re-
presents merely isolated instances of
such instruction. That anyone of them
succeeded in winning name is marvel
Gus. considering the difficulties with
which they were hedged about
But the time for change had come,
and about twenty-five years ago the
Royal Academy of Arts, which had
been established hundred years or so
for men, realized that the benefit of its
system of instruction should extend to
both sexes. Female students were soon
after admitted to it's schools, with most
satisfactory results. Gradually the
movement gained ground. and at the
present time woman may pursue her
art studies with almost as much free
dom as may her brother. This is as it
should be. Women have an innate love
for the beautiful, an eye for color, and
a rare taste in decoration. Their dress
and surroundings attest the fact 1t is,
too, an open question whether they are
not gifted with as much imagination as
the other sex, if not more, and this,
coupled with native talent for color and
an overflow of sentiment points to
their ultimate success in the world of
| art.
Granted the ability to learn and the
opportunity for learning, the battle is
but just begun. The requirement of
all we know is mainly matter of train
ing and instruction. The elementary
knowledge is quite as important as the
most abstruse principles of compost
ton and design. or of the effect of light
and shade. And just here is where
most women make their mistake. They
go about their work in an amatuerish
way and feverish haste to accomplish
something that will show. Thorough
ness is lost sight OF, and God-given
talents are frittered away. They paint
and etch and model and design, are
fired with high enthusiasm, but fall
short of greatness in generality that
almost make us doubt if the divine af-
1atus has yet been bestowed upon the
last work of creation. And yet We have
Rosa Bonheur and Harriet Hosmer
and few other representative women
to attest to women's power to do what
she will in art as in other things. But
it is safe to say that these women aim
ed at thoroughness in the start, and
had determination enough to stick to
their purpose Without this will and
spirit no great results can be attained
in any aim of life.
l do not wish to be understood as dep
recating the tendency of the time to
amateur art. 1t is fascinating pursuit,
and everyone of cultured mind or re-
tinement. naturally desires some degree
| of acquaintance with that which tends
to bring beauty and brightness into
everyday life. And who shall say that
in this line women are not rich con-
tributors? They form the mass of
workers in the art schools, and are
bountiful in the work that adorn our
homes and make life worth living. And
| it is they who have nursed and kept
alive the splendid enthusiasm which
finds expression in every form of de-
corative work. Let them keep on in
their good work (for it is good. no
matter how lacking in the principles of
art) and labor according to their light.
They may not achieve fame, but they
will give joy to the home circle, and
refine and lift it up, which is dear
satisfaction to the heart that beats in
the right place. But even to those
home workers the advice of thorough
ness holds good. To keep resolutely
to the study of the dry and rudimen-
tary knowledge of anatomy, perspec-
tive, and the principles of design is the
sure way to make the most of limited
! opportunities. The habit of observa-
ton is another great help. and calls for
no special time or opportunity. The
meanest object or the most common
place scene is rich with suggestions to
the seeking mind.
Among the professional artists
women may be said to be fairly should
er to shoulder with men during the last
two or three years But it should be
added that the men have not kept up
to their usual standard. The ex-
hibitions are described as barren Of re-
markable works. The depression in
trade may partly account for this, for
| artists in common with common people